Mississippi College Singers are bound for New York City again — this time for an appearance at historic Lincoln Center in 2010.

The 55-member MC group will perform Rene Clausen's "Memorial" on Jan. 17, 2010. Music professor James Meaders will direct the MC Singers that will team up with outstanding choruses from around the world on the New York stage.

"The Mississippi College Singers received this invitation because of the quality and high level of musicianship demonstrated by the singers and the exceptional recommendation given by Dr. Meaders' choral colleagues," said Jonathan Griffith, artistic director and principal conductor for Distinguished Concerts International in New York City.

The MC group will be accompanied in Lincoln Center by the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra International, among others.

"These wonderful musicians not only represent a high quality of music and education, but they also become ambassadors for the entire community," Griffith said. "This is an event of extreme pride for everybody and deserving of the community's recognition and support."

Griffith and other leaders with Distinguished Concerts International in New York City made the announcement of the MC visit in a recent news release. The MC group will perform Clausen's piece written in light of the Sept 11, 2001 terrorists attacks in New York City and at the Pentagon in Washington.

"It's very exciting to be part of another trip to New York and be part of an historic venue," said Carol Joy Sparkman, a music professor and the group's accompanist. "It shows what a wonderful reputation he (Meaders) has."

The MC Singers are truly global ambassadors for Mississippi College.

In January 2008, the Meaders-directed MC Singers took the stage at New York's famed Carnegie Hall as part of a musical tribute to mark the birthday of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. In May 2008, thirty-eight members of the MC Singers traveled to Europe for performances in some of Europe's historic capitals, including stops in Frankfurt, Leipzig, Prague and Vienna. A trip highlight was a concert at St. Thamaskirche in Leipzig, the church in which Johann Sebastian Bach served as organist/choirmaster from 1723 to 1750. Other international tours have taken them to Italy, Germany and England in recent years.

The return to New York City in 2010 will bring the group to the Big Apple for five days and four nights in preparation for the concert.

Meaders is chairman of the MC Department of Music and director of choral activities at the Baptist-affiliated university. The MC graduate has served as minister of music at Northside Baptist Church in Clinton for several years.

In recent weeks, the MC Singers helped celebrate the Christmas season with its 23rd annual Festival of the Lights concert at Provine Chapel. In March 2009, the group will take their vibrant sound to churches and schools in Louisiana and Texas.

Contact Andy Kanengiser, University News Coordinator, at 601.925.7760 or at kanengis@mc.edu.